May 8, 2008

Letters

Candidate's remark

Dear Editor: Mike Moloney (Letters, May 6) reasons that "One must believe that life is not possible without conception; therefore, life takes place from conception to death." Some 19th century pope invented this trope, then Catholics sold it to fundamentalists somehow, even though the Bible says nothing of the sort.

And what does it mean? After all, both my kidneys and a zygote are alive. I suppose kidneys aren't "life" because they don't have the potential of becoming a human. But then neither do many fertilized eggs. Some are so defective they get spontaneously aborted (we wrongly call this a "miscarriage"). Some fail to implant in the uterus. Some implant in the fallopian tubes (ectopic pregnancy). Some, like anencephalics (no brain) can survive in the womb but not after birth. Sometimes the mother's body kills the fetus through incompatible biochemistry. In all these cases, in the natural order of things, the fertilized egg in question did not have the potential of becoming a human life.

All this is why many who dearly love children don't consider them children until they actually are children.

But Moloney wants the Catholic church to control reproductive policy here as it does across most of Latin America, where the church routinely prevents child rape victims as young as nine from getting a legal abortion - even when the law allows it.

The church's concern for "unborn children" doesn't seem to carry over to actual children.

Lee The,

Palo Alto



More on clinging

Dear Editor: Many in the media seem to feel that Barack Obama insulted rural voters when he talked of them "clinging" to guns and religion, but the polls seem to indicate that these people do not feel insulted.

Perhaps they remember the words of Paul in Romans 12:9: "Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good."

Janice Hough,

Palo Alto



City revenues

Dear Editor: The bankrupt city of Vallejo and Palo Alto have a lot in common. One thing in common is the large part of the city payroll that goes to unionized fire, police, etc. Another is the virtual nonparticipation of large profitable corporations within city limits that pay virtually no taxes to the city, despite the obvious advantages that being in this city gives them. As I understand it, the city gets some property tax money, a percent of retail sales, a transient occupancy tax and maybe more.

I guess hotels and retail sales businesses make the biggest contribution, which they pass onto consumers. R&D companies, insurance businesses, banks, unregulated utilities and law firms fall outside these categories and so pay little except small, often grandfathered-in taxes. So they pay some property tax.

So many of the richest and most prosperous corporations in the world have major sites here but pay relatively little for the wonderful business and municipal environment that allows them to prosper. The major burden of property taxes falls on those in single-family residences such as my son and his wife.

I understand that the management of major corporations do not want to pay more taxes. Their executives make hundreds of thousands per year plus perks because they set their own salaries. I think they would rather see a municipality go bankrupt rather than pay their share.

However it's not the fault of the workers who cannot even afford to live in the city.

Bill Copeland,

Palo Alto



Health care woes

Dear Editor: It's time we as a nation woke up. We have to change or die.

I am still paying off an emergency r0oom visit from three years ago. All I had was a boil on my back that took the doctor 30 seconds to lance. It has cost me more than $1,000 so far.

Money is more important than life here and it's unbelievable that in the year 2008 this is going on.

I am a South African transplant and I thought it was backwards with apartheid. This is just as bad if not worse. People who can be helped are dying. I am very embarrassed being an American now because of this.

As a new mother, I cry deeply in my heart for the Stone Age mentality that we are in. Why haven't we changed yet? What's wrong with us?

Also, more awareness needs to be put toward alternative and preventive health care, as well, such as homeopathy and flower essences (this is not aromatherapy - Google it. It helps kids with ADD/ADHD without Ritalin). Europe, England and South Africa have successful practicing homeopathic doctors who are on the same level as allopathic doctors and are equally respected.

Furthermore Americans are sick because of the low quality of food here. Everything is so overprocessed and all the good stuff is taken out. One has to pay more for organic or better-quality food.

Wake up, America. We have to change now.

Janice Kirkpatrick,

Redwood City